Dendrobium offi cinale flowers flavonoids enriched extract protects against acute ethanol-induced gastric ulcers via AMPK/PI3K signaling pathways

Gastric ulcer is a widespread disease caused by various etiologies.Dendrobium offi cinale flowers exert several health benefits owing to their rich flavonoid content.In this study,protective effects and possible action mechanisms of D.offi cinale flowers’flavonoid enriched extract(DOFF)were assessed against gastric ulcer.The result of sodium nitrite-aluminum nitrate colorimetry showed that 52.34%of the total extractive was flavonoid,and ultra-high performance liquid chromatography time of flight mass spectrometer(UPLC-QTOF/MS)revealed the presence of 28 components in DOFF of which 14 belonged to flavonoids.In addition,in vivo assay revealed DOFF potential in reducing the formation of ethanol-induced gastric mucosal lesions,with drop-in ulcer index from 64.33±8.76 to 32.00±4.47.Similar results were revealed in human gastric mucosal epithelia cells,with cells viability to increase from 27.2%to 61.6%post DOFF administration.To analyzed the protect effect of DOFF,we used Western blotting and immunofluorometric assay to revealed the expression levels of key proteins in cell pathways.The results showed that DOFF(320μg/mL)could increase the level of oxidation marker protein(HO-1),apoptosis regulatory protein(Bcl-2)and autophagy marker(LC3β)by 50.84%,43.85%,and 59.21%compared with ethanol-treated group respectively.Further analyzed of the mitochondrial activity and apoptosis pathway,we found that DOFF appeared to mitigate against ethanolinduced gastric mucosal injury via AMPK/mTOR/ULK1 and PI3K/AKT autophagy signaling pathways.

Comparative Analysis of Metaphors of “Flowers” in English and Chinese Poetry from the Perspective of Cognitive Metaphor Theory

Poetry,as a crucial form of literary expression,often employs metaphor as a common rhetorical device.According to the perspective of cognitive metaphor theory,metaphor transcends its traditional linguistic boundaries and is recognized as a profound cognitive mechanism,manifesting as a broader cognitive phenomenon.This article is based on metaphorical examples of“flowers”in Chinese and English poetry,carefully selecting representative cases for in-depth analysis.The aim is to compare the imagery of“flowers”in Chinese and English poetry,observe their similarities and differences,thereby fostering a better understanding of poetry in both languages.Through this study,we not only delve into the intricacies of metaphor within poetry but also shed light on the distinct interpretations of the symbol of“flowers”in different cultural contexts,expanding our appreciation for the cultural diversity inherent in poetry.

Diversity and Application of Herbaceous Flowers in Urban Road Greening in Hefei City

In urban road greening,the planting of ground cover flowers is essential,and herbaceous flowers are an important part.Through the investigation on the diversity of herbaceous flowers in urban road green spaces of Hefei City,the types,colors,application frequency and planting of herbaceous flowers in urban road green spaces were statistically analyzed,and the application forms of herbaceous flowers in the road greening of Hefei City were studied.The characteristics and problems of herbaceous flowers in the road greening of Hefei City were found,and some development suggestions were put forward.

The Study on the Spatial Narrative in Jin Yucheng’s Flowers of Shanghai

Spatial narrative,as a unique literary narrative technique,focuses on advancing the plot and shaping characters through meticulous portrayal of space,providing readers with rich visual and perceptual experiences.This paper examines the spatial narrative utilized in Jin Yucheng’s novel,Flowers of Shanghai.Through an in-depth analysis of the spatial narrative techniques in the novel,this paper asserts that such an exploration has far-reaching consequences in broadening research perspectives and fostering interdisciplinary collaborations between literature and geography.Furthermore,the paper explores the unique aspects of narrative perspective,narrative structure,and narrative time in Flowers of Shanghai,and how these elements perfectly combine with spatial narrative to create a fascinating literary world for readers.The aim of this study is to deeply explore the artistic value and literary charm of the novel through a comprehensive interpretation of the spatial narrative in Flowers of Shanghai.

Study on Skin Care Efficacy of the Active Ingredients in Camellia Japonica Flowers at High and Low Altitudes

The active ingredients of Camellia japonica flowers(CJF)at high and low altitudes,as well as their skin care efficacy were compared.The dried red CJF at high and low altitudes were ultrasonically extracted with 70%ethanol,and these extracts were concentrated and then diluted to a constant volume.The content of total flavonoids,total polyphenols and total proteins was tested and analyzed.In addition,DPPH free radical scavenging,inhibition of the formation of advanced glycation end products,and inhibitory activity against elastase was measured to compare their skin care efficacy in anti-oxidation,anti-glycation,anti-wrinkling and firming.The results showed that,based on the dry weight of CJF,the content of total flavonoids and total proteins of the CJF at high altitude was approximately 1.5 times of the CJF at low altitude,while the content of total polyphenols was approximately 2.4 times that of the CJF at low altitude.The skin care efficacy of CJF at high altitude was significantly better than that of the CJF at low altitude.This work could provide theoretical basis for the selection and application of Camellia japonica flowers in the field of cosmetics.

Flowers: precious food and medicine resources

Flower plants are popular all over the world and important sources of ornamental plants,bioactive molecules and nutrients.Flowers have a wide range of biological activities and beneficial pharmacological effects.Flowers and their active ingredients are becoming more and more popular in the preparation of food,drugs and industrial products.This paper summarizes the active ingredients,pharmacological activities and applications in the pharmaceutical and food industries of flower plants in recent years.In addition,the possible molecular mechanism of pharmacological effects of flower plants were also discussed.302 active constituents from 55 species of flower plants were summarized,including flavonoids(115),terpenoids(90),phenylpropanoids(20),alkaloids(13),organic acids(27)and others(37).The pharmacological effects of flower plants are very extensive,mainly including antioxidant,anti-inflammatory,anti-tumor,anti-virus,and hypoglycemic.The mechanisms of anti-inflammatory,anti-tumor and hypoglycemic activities present the characteristics of multi-way and multi-target.Because of its rich nutrients,bioactive ingredients and plant essential oils,and its wide sources,flower plants are widely used in food,beverage,cosmetics and drug research.Flower plants also play an important role in pharmaceutical industry,food industry and other fields.

Integrative transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses reveal the flavonoid biosynthesis of Pyrus hopeiensis flowers under cold stress

Low temperature is among the most restrictive factors to limit the yield and distribution of pear. Pyrus hopeiensis is a valuable wild resource.PCA showed that P. hopeiensis had strong cold resistance. In this study, the mRNA and metabolome sequencing of P. hopeiensis flower organs exposed to different low temperatures were performed to identify changes of genes and metabolites in response to low-temperature stress. A total of 4 851 differentially expressed genes(DEGs) were identified. Trend analysis showed that these DEGs were significantly enriched in profiles 19, 18, 7, 14, 1, 4 and 11. And the KEGG enrichment analysis showed that the DEGs in profile 18 were significantly enriched in flavone and flavonol biosynthesis. Besides, the expressed trends as well as GO and KEGG functional enrichment analyses of DEGs under cold and freezing stress showed significantly difference. Analyses of flavonoid-related pathways indicated that flavonoid structural genes had undergone significant changes. Correlation analysis showed that b HLH and MYB TFs may affect flavonoid biosynthesis by regulating structural gene expression. And PhMYB308 and PhMYB330 were likely candidate repressors of flavonoid biosynthesis by binding to a specific site in bHLH proteins. In total, 92 differentially accumulated metabolites(DAMs) were identified in P. hopeiensis flowers including 12 flavonoids. WGCNA results showed that coral 1, pink and brown 4 modules were closely associated with flavonoids and 11 MYBs and 15 bHLHs among the three modules may activate or inhibit the expression of 23 structural genes of flavonoid biosynthesis. Taken together, the results of this study provided a theoretical basis for further exploration of the molecular mechanisms of flavonoid biosynthesis and cold resistance of P. hopeiensis flower organs and our findings laid a foundation for further molecular breeding in cold-resistant pear varieties.

Shikimic acid accelerates phase change and flowering in Chinese jujube

The juvenile-to-adult phase change with first flowering as the indicator plays a crucial role in the lifecycle of fruit trees. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying phase change in fruit trees remain largely unknown. Shikimic acid (ShA) pathway is a main metabolic pathway closely related to the synthesis of hormones and many important secondary metabolites participating in plant phase change. So,whether ShA regulates phase change in plants is worth clarifying. Here, the distinct morphological characteristics and the underlying mechanisms of phase change in jujube (Ziziphus jujuba Mill.), an important fruit tree native to China with nutritious fruit and outstanding tolerance abiotic stresses, were clarified. A combined transcriptome and metabolome analysis found that ShA is positively involved in jujube(Yuhong’×Xing 16’) phase change. The genes in the upstream of ShA synthesis pathway (ZjDAHPS, ZjDHQS and ZjSDH), the contents of ShA and the downstream secondary metabolites like phenols were significantly upregulated in the phase change period. Further, the treatment of spraying exogenous ShA verified that ShA at a very low concentration (60 mg·L^(-1)) can substantially speed up the phase change and flowering of jujube and other tested plants including Arabidopsis, tomato and wheat. The exogenous ShA (60 mg·L^(-1)) treatment in jujube seedlings could increase the accumulation of endogenous ShA, enhance leaf photosynthesis and the synthesis of phenols especially flavonoids and phenolic acids, and promote the expression of genes (ZjCOs, ZjNFYs and ZjPHYs) involved in flowering pathway. Basing on above results, we put forward a propose for the underlying mechanism of ShA regulating phase change, and a hypothesis that ShA could be considered a phytohormone-like substance because it is endogenous, ubiquitous, movable and highly efficient at very low concentrations. This study highlights the critical role of ShA in plant phase change and its phytohormone-like properties.

Diverse O-methyltransferases catalyze the biosynthesis of floral benzenoids that repel aphids from the flowers of waterlily Nymphaea prolifera

Nymphaea is a key genus of the ANA grade(Amborellales,Nymphaeales,and Austrobaileyales)of basal flowering plants,which serve as a key model to study the early evolution of floral traits.In this study,we comprehensively investigated the emission,biosynthesis,and biological function of the floral scent in a night-blossoming waterlily Nymphaea prolifera.The headspace volatile collection combined with GC-MS analysis showed that the floral scent of N.prolifera is predominately comprised by methylated benzenoids including anisole,veratrole,guaiacol,and methoxyanisole.Moreover,the emission of these floral benzenoids in N.prolifera exhibited temporal and spatial pattern with circadian rhythm and tissue specificity.By creating and mining transcriptomes of N.prolifera flowers,12 oxygen methyltransferases(NpOMTs)were functionally identified.By in vitro enzymatic assay,NpOMT3,6,and 7 could produce anisole and NpOMT5,7,9,produce guaiacol,whereas NpOMT3,6,9,11 catalyzed the formation of veratrole.Methoxyanisole was identified as the universal product of all NpOMTs.Expression patterns of NpOMTs provided implication for their roles in the production of the respective benzenoids.Phylogenetic analysis of OMTs suggested a Nymphaea-specific expansion of the OMT family,indicating the evolution of lineage-specific functions.In bioassays,anisole,veratrole,and guaiacol in the floral benzenoids were revealed to play the critical role in repelling waterlily aphids.Overall,this study indicates that the basal flowering plant N.prolifera has evolved a diversity and complexity of OMT genes for the biosynthesis of methylated benzenoids that can repel insects from feeding the flowers.These findings provide new insights into the evolutional mechanism and ecological significance of the floral scent from early-diverged flowering plants.

QTL analysis of early flowering of female flowers in zucchini(Cucurbita pepo L.)

Early flowering promotes early maturity, production, and the capacity to counteract biotic and abiotic stresses, making it an important agronomic trait in zucchini. The present study demonstrated that the zucchini inbred line ‘19’ consistently flowered early, taking significantly fewer days to bloom the first female flower(DFF) than the inbred line ‘113’. Genetic analysis revealed that DFF, an inheritable quantitative trait, is controlled by multiple genes. Based on the strategy of quantitative trait locus(QTL) sequencing(QTL-seq) combined with linkage analysis, three QTLs for DFF were identified on chromosomes 4, 11, and 20. This study used additional F2 populations grown under different environmental conditions for QTL mapping analysis of DFF with insertion/deletion(InDel) markers to validate these results. Using the composite interval mapping(CIM) method of R/qtl software, we only identified one major locus under all environmental conditions, located in a 117-kb candidate region on chromosome 20. Based on gene annotation, gene sequence alignment, and qRT-PCR analysis, we found that the Cp4.1LG20g08050 gene encoding a RING finger protein may be a candidate gene for the opposite regulation of early flowering in zucchini. In summary, these results lay a foundation for a better understanding of early flowering and improving early flowering-based breeding strategies in zucchini.

Fish Swimming amid Falling Flowers中的中国绘画元素

中国传统文化传播深刻影响了欧美诗人的诗歌创作,如霍华德·奈莫洛夫受中国传统绘画《落花游鱼图》的影响创作了美国现代诗歌Fish Swimming amid Falling Flowers。霍华德·奈莫洛夫受中国传统绘画的影响主要体现在诗歌创作中对物象移用、意境营造、重返自然、诗意栖居、万物相融、和谐共存的哲思。

Advances in the Study of Chemical Composition and Biological Activities of Aloe Vera Flowers

This review summarizes the main chemical composition of Aloe vera flowers and introduces their antioxidant,anti-aging,skin whitening,skin moisturizing,anti-skin irritation,and anti-skin allergy effects.Suggestions for the application of Aloe v.flowers in cosmetics are provided.

Biology of Flowering of Some Species of the Genus Phlomoides Moench

The article presents the biology of flowering and the daily dynamics of flowering of two species from the Lamiaceae family: ph. anisochila va ph. sogdiana of the distribution out in the Nuratau Mountains range.

J-family genes redundantly regulate flowering time and increase yield in soybean

Soybean(Glycine max)is a short-day crop whose flowering time is regulated by photoperiod.The longjuvenile trait extends its vegetative phase and increases yield under short-day conditions.Natural variation in J,the major locus controlling this trait,modulates flowering time.We report that the three J-family genes influence soybean flowering time,with the triple mutant Guangzhou Mammoth-2 flowering late under short days by inhibiting transcription of E1-family genes.J-family genes offer promising allelic combinations for breeding.

Molecular mechanism of flowering time regulation in Brassica rapa:similarities and differences with Arabidopsis

Properly regulated flowering time is pivotal for successful plant reproduction.The floral transition from vegetative growth to reproductive growth is regulated by a complex gene regulatory network that integrates environmental signals and internal conditions to ensure that flowering takes place under favorable conditions.Brassica rapa is a diploid Cruciferae species that includes several varieties that are cultivated as vegetable or oil crops.Flowering time is one of the most important agricultural traits of B.rapa crops because of its influence on yield and quality.The transition to flowering in B.rapa is regulated by several environmental and developmental cues,which are perceived by several signaling pathways,including the vernalization pathway,the autonomous pathway,the circadian clock,the thermosensory pathway,and gibberellin(GA)signaling.These signals are integrated to control the expression of floral integrators BrFTs and BrSOC1s to regulate flowering.In this review,we summarized current research advances on the molecular mechanisms that govern flowering time regulation in B.rapa and compare this to what is known in Arabidopsis.

CmbHLH110,a novel bHLH transcription factor,accelerates flowering in chrysanthemum

Basic helix-loop-helix(bHLH)transcription factor gene family in plants controls various growth and development aspects;however,the actual roles of these genes in flowering plants are not well known.In this study,a novel bHLH protein CmbHLH110 was found to interact with CmERF110 by in vitro and in vivo experiments,a chrysanthemum ERF110 homolog that acts as a positive flowering regulator.In addition,CmbHLH110 was also found to regulate the flowering of chrysanthemums,overexpression of CmbHLH110 causes chrysanthemums to flower earlier,and suppressed CmbHLH110 leads to delayed flowering.Furthermore,the loss-of-function Arabidopsis mutant of its homologue PERICYCLE FACTOR TYPE-A 5(PFA5)had a noticeable late flowering phenotype,and CmbHLH110 completely complemented the late flowering phenotype of the pfa5 mutant,whereas heterologous overexpression of CmbHLH110 in Arabidopsis Col-0 caused early flowering.Transcriptome sequencing revealed significant differential expression of flowering-related and circadian clock-related genes in transgenic chrysanthemum.Therefore,we concluded that CmbHLH110,as a novel flowering regulator,could interact with CmERF110 to regulate flowering in chrysanthemum.

GmAP1d regulates flowering time under long-day photoperiods in soybean

Flowering time is important for adaptation of soybean(Glycine max)to different environments.Here,we conducted a genome-wide association study of flowering time using a panel of 1490 cultivated soybean accessions.We identified three strong signals at the qFT02-2 locus(Chr02:12037319–12238569),which were associated with flowering time in three environments:Gongzhuling,Mengcheng,and Nanchang.By analyzing linkage disequilibrium,gene expression patterns,gene annotation,and the diversity of variants,we identified an AP1 homolog as the candidate gene for the qFT02-2 locus,which we named GmAP1d.Only one nonsynonymous polymorphism existed among 1490 soybean accessions at position Chr02:12087053.Accessions carrying the Chr02:12087053-T allele flowered significantly earlier than those carrying the Chr02:12087053-A allele.Thus,we developed a cleaved amplified polymorphic sequence(CAPS)marker for the SNP at Chr02:12087053,which is suitable for marker-assisted breeding of flowering time.Knockout of GmAP1d in the‘Williams 82’background by gene editing promoted flowering under long-day conditions,confirming that GmAP1d is the causal gene for qFT02-2.An analysis of the region surrounding GmAP1d revealed that GmAP1d was artificially selected during the genetic improvement of soybean.Through stepwise selection,the proportion of modern cultivars carrying the Chr02:12087053-T allele has increased,and this allele has become nearly fixed(95%)in northern China.These findings provide a theoretical basis for better understanding the molecular regulatory mechanism of flowering time in soybean and a target gene that can be used for breeding modern soybean cultivars adapted to different latitudes.

AHP-based Landscape Value Evaluation of Perennial Flower Border Application in Hefei City

An analytic hierarchy process(AHP)was employed to establish a landscape value evaluation model for 20 common species of perennial flowers in the flower border of Hefei City.With the overarching objective of determining the application value of the flower border,10 evaluation factors were identified and subsequently classified into 3 distinct grades.Grade I(L>2.5)was defined as perennial flower resources with the highest development and utilization value,including only one species of Salvia farinacea.Grade II(2.0≤L≤2.5)was defined as perennial flower varieties suitable for most areas,encompassing 9 species of plants,such asTaraxacummongolicum.Grade III(L<2.0)was defined as perennial flower varieties with low application value,encompassing 10 species of plants,such asRuellia brittoniana,but lacking the value of further popularization and application.Consequently,the proportion of their application in the flower border should be reduced.The evaluation results can serve as a theoretical foundation for the implementation of perennial flowers in urban flower borders.

Unraveling the regulatory network of flower coloration in soybean:Insights into roles of GmMYBA3 and GmMYBR1

Anthocyanins play crucial roles in pollen protection and pollinator attraction in flowering plants.However,the mechanisms underlying flower color determination and whether floral anthocyanin regulators participate in other processes remain largely unresolved in soybeans(Glycine max).In this study,we investigated the genetic components and mechanisms governing anthocyanin biosynthesis in soybean flowers.Molecular and genetic studies have characterized two antagonistic regulators,the positive activator GmMYBA3 and the negative repressor GmMYBR1,that modulate the gene expression of anthocyanin biosynthesis in soybean flowers.Further findings revealed a regulatory interplay between GmMYBA3 and GmMYBR1 bridged by GmTT8a,highlighting the complexity of anthocyanin regulation in different soybean organs.Exploration of additional soybean cultivars demonstrated the universality of GmMYBA3 and GmMYBR1 in regulating floral anthocyanin biosynthesis-related genes,with GmF3’5’H identified as a crucial determinant of white flower color.This study provides a molecular mechanism underlying soybean flower color determination,paving the way for the molecular modification of soybean flowers to probably enhance their resistance to abiotic stresses and attractiveness to pollinators.

The mid-domain effect in flowering phenology

The timing of flowering is an important driver of species distribution and community assembly patterns.However,we still have much to learn about the factors that shape flowering diversity(i.e.,number of species flowering per period) in plant communities.One potential explanation of flowering diversity is the mid-domain effect,which states that geometric constraints on species ranges within a bounded domain(space or time) will yield a mid-domain peak in diversity regardless of ecological factors.Here,we determine whether the mid-domain effect explains peak flowering time(i.e.,when most species of communities are flowering) across China.We used phenological data of 16,267 herbaceous and woody species from the provincial Flora in China and species distribution data from the Chinese Vascular Plant Distribution Database to determine relationships between the observed number of species flowering and the number of species flowering as predicted by the mid-domain effect model,as well as between three climatic variables(mean minimum monthly temperature,mean monthly precipitation,and mean monthly sunshine duration).We found that the mid-domain effect explained a significant proportion of the temporal variation in flowering diversity across all species in China.Further,the mid-domain effect explained a greater proportion of variance in flowering diversity at higher latitudes than at lower latitudes.The patterns of flowering diversity for both herbaceous and woody species were related to both the mid-domain effect and environmental variables.Our findings indicate that including geometric constraints in conjunction with abiotic and biotic predictors will improve predictions of flowering diversity patterns.